Turks and Caicos trains divers to monitor reefs

October 9, 2014

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands (AP) — The government of the Turks and Caicos Islands has trained professional and recreational scuba divers to help monitor the health of coral reefs around the British territory.

Nearly two dozen divers are expected to collect information from different sites every three to four months.

A government statement Thursday says the divers will submit data to the island’s Department of Environment and Maritime Affairs.

Coral reefs remain a source of revenue for many tourism-dependent islands in the region even though their numbers have declined more than 50 percent since the 1970s. Experts blame climate change as well as a drop in the populations of parrotfish and sea urchins.